In the Spirit of Giving

The holidays are around the corner and some of us will over indulge our family members or treat ourselves to that one gift we’ve been eyeing all year. But if you want to give your time or donation and need a little inspiration on what’s out there, here are a few ideas.

Giving Trees
There are many types of giving trees and by that we mean those run by charity organisations like the Salvation Army or a local neighbourhood charity right in your backyard. Most of the trees allow you to support adults, children, seniors, and families who can’t afford gifts they need at Christmas.

Food Donations
Donating food is another way you can give over the holidays. You can donate food to homeless shelters or to programs like Maggie Beer Foundation who provide better food for those in aged care facilities. Animal lovers can donate food to their favourite shelter as well.

Helping Others (or Furry Friends)
If you want to give your time, volunteer. You could donate your time to such places like Early Bird Cafe and serve breakfast to the homeless, volunteer at your local RSPCA or foster a fur baby. You can also be a listening ear for someone who finds the holidays a little tough by volunteering at Lifeline. Check out Go Volunteer for opportunities that might suit your interests.

Conservation
If your idea of giving back is to give back to Mother Earth, check out Conservation Volunteers Australia who helps protect ecosystems and species across Australia. If climate change and clean energy is your passion, Australian Conservation Foundation could be for you. Maybe you want to focus your conservation on a specific area like the Great Barrier Reef, you can do that at The Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation or you can find a local animal sanctuary closer to home and give back.

There are a million ways to give if you want to give. How you want to give is completely up to you.

What are your favourite ways to give back during the holiday season? Leave a comment below.